Sorry about the wait on this chapter, everyone. My other story has been getting considerably more love recently, and I felt a bit inclined to jump ahead on it a bit. That combined with a weekend of doing things at a place with people made the writing of this chapter a bit hectic. Oh dear...I'm rambling. Well anyway, slather that delicious feedback all over the reviews, and have fun with the newest chapter.
Dusk Star pulled out three chairs for the royal family of the Crystal Empire, silently praying that he hadn't ruined his chances entirely. Steel Heart hadn't given him so much as a glance since they'd reached the castle. Shining Armor had passed him a few challenging glances, but nothing more. Now he gestured to the younger unicorn to step aside for a talk.
"Look, Dusk. You're the son of Day's End and Luna, but that doesn't really mean anything to me. What I want to know is whether you're aware of the history your family has." Dusk Star nodded eagerly.
"Yes sir. My father fought Discord, Chrysalis, Sombra, and Tirek, and saved Equestria from each of them."
"Exactly. Your father had a tendency to get into trouble, and as his son you'll inherit his reputation. Most ponies would love that, but I need to know you can keep up with it. If somepony comes along who wants to challenge you, I want to make sure you'll be around to protect my daughter." Dusk Star nodded, his mentality changing entirely.
"Sir, I'm ready whenever you are." Shining Armor nodded smugly.
"Let's wait until after dinner. We don't want them getting too worried."
Everypony sat down around a gigantic table, awkward silence gripping them all. Dusk Star stared back and forth between Shining Armor and Steel Heart. As the lids on the two dozen serving platters rose into the air, fanfare blasted the ears of everypony in the castle. A royal guard rushed through the door, his eyes bulging practically out of his head.
"Your highness...it's him...Day's End has returned!" Shining Armor and Luna leapt out of their chairs and headed in opposite directions. Shining Armor placed himself directly between Steel Heart and the door. Luna moved the the head of the table and stared unwaveringly at the door. It creaked open and there stood two silhouettes. Both had gigantic wingspans, one had a horn, and they both radiated intense power. As they stepped in from the light, the faces of Scootaloo and Day's End were revealed. Luna's face was painted with shock.
"I-Impossible! Day's End...you...you were dead! How are you here?" Shining Armor pawed the ground.
"Princess, stay on your guard. I'm not ready to rule out Changelings just because he's still an Alicorn." Her eyes narrowed, and she stepped up to him. Day's End spoke softly, not ready to risk his full volume yet.
"I have returned, Luna, because you needed me to." Her breath quickened and a slight blush came to her cheeks. "Test me with whatever questions you like." She stood square with him again and lifted up on her back legs, placing her front hooves on his shoulders.
"Who said anything about questions?" She brought her head down and placed her lips directly against his, closing her eyes at the same time. End's eyes bulged as he adjusted to Luna, but soon they closed as well and he brought one hoof up behind her back, bringing her even closer. Everypony in the room was totally silent as they gradually parted and Luna's eyes narrowed. "I-I don't know. It could just be that it's been so long, or it could be that you've been dead, or maybe you aren't Day's End, but I can't tell." Shining Armor stepped forward, one eyebrow raised.
"I do have a question for him, your Highness. What is the name of the shield spell you taught me on Visitor Day in Magic Kindergarten?" Day's End grinned from ear to ear.
"That would be the Turtle Shell Spell." Shining Armor nodded slowly, acknowledging the authenticity of the memory.
"Yeah...That was the spell that got me my Cutie Mark. I never did thank you for that, did I?" Day's End chuckled.
"You don't have to. I'm glad to help." Luna stepped back a few paces, and turned to the rest of the crowd.
"Are there any further challengers to the authenticity of Day's End and his return?" Nopony raised a single hoof against the Prince of Power for almost a full minute until Dusk Star stepped forward.
"I'd like to ask him something. Father...If you really are my father...What is hidden inside this locket?" He drew the trinket from out of his breastplate and off of his head, dangling it in front of the Alicorn's eyes. End's face was completely frozen, occasionally showing signs of intense concentration. Everypony in the room was silent. None of them except for Luna and Celestia knew what the locket contained.
"It holds the first picture of your mother and I together." Day's End spoke with confidence, but the look was soon shattered as both princesses and Dusk Star began to snarl and paw the ground.
"Who are you?" The voice coming from Luna was surprisingly calm. "Answer me, imposter." An evil grin flashed across End's face.
"As if I'd honestly tell you. What I will do, however, is lock you in your own tower and force you to watch as I tear both your kingdom and your late husband's reputation to shreds." End's horn began to glow and something clicked in Dusk Star. His entire body reacted instantly and when his eyes opened again there was a cloud of smoke behind him and he was laying on top of Steel Heart. Her eyes were closed, and he took the few short seconds he had left to roll off of her and check his surroundings. He seemed to have smashed them through the wall into an old storage room. He checked himself for injuries and found nothing but a few scalded hairs on the back of his hindquarters from whatever he had dodged. He almost missed the picture on his flank. Where it had been blank moments before, there was now an image of a stopwatch with a chip in the crystal. He spent a moment examining it, trying to decipher it, silently berating himself for not having had a fighting Cutie Mark like his real father.
"I'd say it means you have a tendency to get there in the nick of time." Steel Heart was back on her feet.
"That actually makes a lot more sense than everything I was thinking. You okay?"
"Yeah. I don't know what you did, but it worked. I'd say you've gotten us to the other side of the castle by now." Dusk Star stared back through the hole he'd made. Looking at it a second time, she was right. Debris had made up what looked like a cobblestone wall on first glance.
"Alright then. I've got to head back and clear the rest of them. No offense, but could you stay here?"
"None taken, but there's no way I'm staying here while my parents' lives are in this much danger." Dusk Star sighed, bracing himself for the storm he was about to bring on.
"Look, it's not that I doubt you can take care of yourself. But between the two of us, I'm the only one with single combat training, experience fighting Alicorns, and extensive knowledge. Having somepony with me will just endanger everypony further." Steel Heart pursed her lips, searching for a loophole in the prince's logic. There wasn't one, and so she nodded. "Thanks. Trust me, I'll be back with our parents before you know it. Just stick around, and try to find something to block that wall up. I have a feeling we might need a barricade before this thing is over." With that, he was suddenly gone through the gap he had created.